The great show-and-tell disaster
Mike Reiss
The great show-and-tell disaster
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mike Reiss
The text is written at a 1st grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What if your show-and-tell project could mix up words in the funniest way? Ned the inventor brings a word-scrambler to school, but when names get turned into silly or awkward words, the classroom turns into a big, giggly mess. Can Ned fix his gadget before things get even more out of hand?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This humorous early reader follows Ned, a young inventor whose word-scrambling gadget causes unexpected trouble during show-and-tell by transforming classmates' names into impolite words. Suitable for ages 5-8, the story uses playful rhymes and light humor to engage children while gently exploring themes of creativity and problem-solving. Parents should note the mild comedic mishaps around language but no serious content concerns.
Why we rated The great show-and-tell disaster 6C
The great show-and-tell disaster is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 40 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 2.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The great show-and-tell disaster works for readers up to grade 3.5.
We rate The great show-and-tell disaster as 6C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, The great show-and-tell disaster explores schools, show-and-tell presentations, anagrams, humorous stories, and stories in rhyme — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about schools, show-and-tell presentations, anagrams.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
6C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0843176806
- Pages
- 40
- Publisher
- Price Stern Sloan
- Published
- 2001
- Type
- Fiction